In a news release Wednesday, the Sandy Springs Police Department announced it and Target are teaming up for the 31st annual National Night Out community celebration Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Hammond Park in Sandy Springs. The free event will include food and refreshments; fire trucks and police cars, an opportunity to meet with police officers and firefighters, car safety seat checks and information on how to sign up for or start a neighborhood watch pro-gram.

The parking lot off Glenridge Drive will be closed during the event for the display of police, fire and EMS vehicles. Public parking will be in the lower lot off Hammond Drive. Nationwide, last year’s event involved residents, law enforcement agencies, civic groups, businesses, neighborhood organizations and local officials from more than 15,000 communities in all 50 states. In all, more than 37 million people participated in the event.

Target gives away 5 percent of its income to communities every week, which is more than $3 million per week. The night is designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, generate support for and participation in local anti-crime programs, strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships and send a message to criminals letting them know neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

For more information, visit http://www.sandyspringsga.org, then click on the “city calendar” icon and find the National Night Out link on the August calendar.

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